Printing system, printer, colorimeter, color material stabilization determination method, and program

Abstract

To determine whether a color material of printed matter has been stabilized in a short time without being affected by a difference in content of the printed matter or a printing condition.SOLUTION: A printing system 10 includes: a printer 100 that prints any printed matter on a printing medium; and a colorimeter 200 that measures a color of the printed matter. The printer includes: a printing part 103; and a print control unit 110 that causes the printing part to print, based on information on the printed matter, a measurement patch to be used for measurement of stabilization of a color material of the printed matter and the printed matter, on the printing medium. The colorimeter includes: a colorimetry part 203; and a colorimetry control unit 211 that causes the colorimetry part to measure the measurement patch and determines, based on an amount of change in color of the measurement patch, whether the color material of the printed matter has been stabilized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing machine, a color measuring machine, a color material stabilization determination method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In a printing system, a waiting time occurs until the color material (ink) of a printed matter printed on a printing medium dries and the color stabilizes. If printing is newly performed on the printing medium or the printing media are stacked and arranged before the color material stabilizes, there is a possibility of soiling the printing medium.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, the elapsed time until the color material stabilizes has been managed, and waiting has been performed until the time when the color material is considered to have stabilized. For example, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1 related to this type of technology. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for measuring a change in the color of a color material with a color measuring machine by prior verification under predetermined color materials (inks) and predetermined environmental conditions, and determining a stabilization time until the color of the color material stabilizes. The conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 performs color measurement at the time of printing after waiting for the elapse of the stabilization time determined by prior verification.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The prior art described in Patent Document 1 performs color measurement after waiting for a uniform stabilization time determined by prior verification for all printed materials, without considering the differences in the printed content and printing conditions of the print job. However, the time required for the stabilization of the colorant (ink) varies depending on the printed content and printing conditions of the print job. Therefore, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, for some colorants, color measurement and waiting for the stabilization of the colorant are repeatedly performed. As a result, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that unnecessary waiting time occurs in some prints.

[0006] Also, for example, among inkjet printers, some use UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) as the colorant. UV ink contains a component called a photoinitiator that cures the ink by irradiation with UV (ultraviolet rays). The photoinitiator exhibits a phenomenon of discoloration to yellow (yellowing) upon UV irradiation, and then has the characteristic that the yellow component fades over time. Colorants such as UV ink containing such a photoinitiator take a particularly long time for the color to stabilize after printing. When color measurement is performed on such a colorant, there is a possibility that accurate color measurement values cannot be obtained. Therefore, there is a problem that an incorrect stabilization time may be determined, resulting in the possibility of unnecessary waiting time occurring.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above prior art. The main object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a printing machine, a color measuring machine, a method for determining colorant stabilization, and a program that can determine whether the colorant of a printed material has stabilized in a short time without being affected by differences in the content and printing conditions of the printed material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The above problems of the present invention are solved by the following means.

[0009] (1) A printing system comprising a printing machine that prints any printed matter on a printing medium, and a color measuring machine that measures the color of the printed matter. The printing machine includes a printing unit and a printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter and the printed matter on the printing medium based on the information of the printed matter. The color measuring machine includes a color measuring unit and a color measuring control unit that causes the color measuring unit to measure the color of the measurement patch and determines whether the color material of the printed matter has been stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch.

[0010] (2) The printing control unit according to (1) above causes the printing unit to print the measurement patch on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount within the same printed matter.

[0011] (3) The color measuring control unit according to (1) above causes the color measuring unit to start measuring the color of the printed matter when it determines that the color material of the printed matter has been stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch.

[0012] (4) The color measuring control unit according to (1) above causes the color measuring unit to periodically measure the color of the measurement patch and determines whether the color material of the printed matter has been stabilized by determining whether the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch falls within a preset predetermined threshold.

[0013] (5) The printing system according to (1) above further includes a display device that displays information, and the printing control unit or the color measuring control unit causes the display device to display a threshold setting screen for setting a threshold used as a criterion for determining the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter.

[0014] (6) When a UV-curable color material is used as the color material, the color measuring control unit determines whether the color material of the printed matter has been stabilized by determining whether the amount of change in the yellow component of the color material in the color measurement coordinate space of the measurement patch falls within a preset predetermined threshold.

[0015] (7) The printing control unit causes the printing unit to print the measurement patch on the printing medium with an amount of adhesion equivalent to the maximum amount of colorant adhesion among a plurality of specific color measurement points set for the printed matter, in the printing system according to (1) above.

[0016] (8) The color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to measure the measurement patch at the start and completion of color measurement of the printed matter, and determines whether color variation has occurred during color measurement of the measurement patch based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch at the start and completion of color measurement. When color variation has occurred, the color measurement result of the measurement patch is discarded, in the printing system according to (1) above.

[0017] (9) When it is determined based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch that the colorant of the printed matter is not stabilized, the color measurement control unit temporarily suspends the color measurement of the measurement patch. The printing system according to (1) above.

[0018] (10) Further comprising a display device for displaying information, the color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to periodically measure the measurement patch to periodically obtain the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch. When it is determined by the color measurement control unit based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch that the colorant of the printed matter is not stabilized, the printing control unit or the color measurement control unit causes the display device to display a warning message indicating that the color is not stabilized, in the printing system according to (1) above.

[0019] (11) Further comprising a display device for displaying information, the color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to periodically measure the measurement patch and records the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch. From the recorded rate of change in the color of the measurement patch, the predicted time until stabilization of the colorant is calculated, and the predicted time is displayed on the display device, in the printing system according to (1) above.

[0020] (12) A printing machine, comprising: a printing unit; and a printing control unit configured to print, on a printing medium, a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of a coloring material of the printed matter and the printed matter, based on information of the printed matter, such that the measurement patch is printed on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum adhesion amount of the coloring material within the same printed matter when printing the measurement patch and the printed matter on the printing medium.

[0021] (13) A colorimeter, comprising: a color measurement unit; and a color measurement control unit configured to measure the measurement patch printed on a printing medium and an arbitrary printed matter with the color measurement unit, and determine whether the coloring material of the printed matter is stabilized based on a change amount of the color of the measurement patch.

[0022] (14) A method for determining coloring material stabilization, comprising: a printing step of printing, by a printing machine that prints an arbitrary printed matter on a printing medium, a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of a coloring material of the printed matter and the printed matter on the printing medium based on information of the printed matter; and a determination step of determining, by a colorimeter that measures the printed matter, whether the coloring material of the printed matter is stabilized based on a change amount of the color of the measurement patch by measuring the measurement patch.

[0023] (15) A program for causing a control unit of a printing machine that prints an arbitrary printed matter on a printing medium to print, on the printing medium, a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of a coloring material of the printed matter and the printed matter, such that the measurement patch is printed on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum adhesion amount of the coloring material within the same printed matter when printing the measurement patch and the printed matter on the printing medium, based on information of the printed matter.

[0024] (16) A program for causing a control unit of a colorimeter that measures a printed matter to measure a measurement patch printed on a printing medium together with the printed matter with a color measurement unit, and determine whether the coloring material of the printed matter is stabilized based on a change amount of the color of the measurement patch.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the coloring material of a printed matter has been stabilized in a short time without being affected by the content of the printed matter or differences in printing conditions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing only schematically shows to such an extent that the present invention can be sufficiently understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the illustrated examples. Also, in each drawing, common components and similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0028] <Configuration of the Printing System> Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, the configuration of the printing system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing system 10.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a client PC 20, a network 30, a printing machine 100, and a colorimeter 200. The client PC 20 is a device operated by a user. The network 30 is a component that communicably connects each device. The printing machine 100 is a device that prints a printed matter on a printing medium. The colorimeter 200 is a device that measures the color (color development) of the coloring material used in the printed matter.

[0030] In the printing machine 100, when the program 802a stored in the storage medium 801a is installed, each component in the control unit 101 shown in FIG. 2 is constructed. Also, in the colorimeter 200, when the program 802b stored in the storage medium 801b is installed, each component in the control unit 201 shown in FIG. 2 is constructed.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing machine 100 includes a control unit 101 that controls the operation of the entire printing machine 100, and a printing unit 103 that executes printing. The control unit 101 includes a processing unit 102 composed of a CPU 104, a ROM 105, and a RAM 106, a display operation unit 107, a storage unit 108, an image processing unit 109, a printing control unit 110, a colorimeter communication unit 111, and a network unit 112.

[0032] The processing unit 102 is a component that executes various operations. The display operation unit 107 is a component that displays various information and accepts user operations. The storage unit 108 is a component that stores various information. The image processing unit 109 is a component that executes image processing. The printing control unit 110 is a component that causes the printing unit 103 to perform printing. The colorimeter communication unit 111 is a component that communicates with the colorimeter 200. The network unit 112 is a component that connects to the network 30.

[0033] The control unit 101 temporarily holds the print job data in the storage unit 108. Then, the control unit 101 receives a print start request for the print job stored in the storage unit 108 based on an instruction from an external device connected via the network unit 112 and the network 30, or a user operation on the display operation unit 107. When this occurs, in the control unit 101, the image processing unit 109 generates print image data based on the print job data. Then, the print control unit 110 transmits the print image data to the printing unit 103 and controls the printing unit 103 to print the print image data on the printing unit 103.

[0034] The colorimeter 200 includes a control unit 201 that controls the operation of the entire colorimeter 200, and a color measurement unit 203 that measures the color of the coloring material used in the printing of the printed matter 400. The control unit 201 includes a processing unit 202 composed of a CPU 204, a ROM 205, and a RAM 206, a display operation unit 207, a storage unit 208, a color measurement control unit 211, and a network unit 212.

[0035] The processing unit 202 is a component that executes various operations. The display operation unit 207 is a component that displays various information and receives user operations. The storage unit 208 is a component that stores various information. The color measurement control unit 211 is a component that causes the color measurement unit 203 to perform color measurement. The network unit 212 is a component that connects to the network 30.

[0036] The control unit 201 receives a color measurement start request for the printed matter based on a user operation on the display operation unit 207. When this occurs, in the control unit 201, the color measurement control unit 211 controls the color measurement unit 203 to cause the color measurement unit 203 to perform color measurement on the printed matter to be color-measured, and stores the color measurement result in the storage unit 208.

[0037] In the printing system 10, the printing control unit 110 of the printing machine 100 causes the printing unit 103 to print a measurement patch and a printed matter on a printing medium based on print job data (information on the printed matter). The measurement patch is an image used for measuring the stabilization of the coloring material of the printed matter. Here, an example will be described in which the printing control unit 110 of the printing machine 100 causes the printing unit 103 to print a color chart image 300 including a measurement patch 301 and a color patch 302 shown in FIG. 3 for example. The color patch 302 is an image of a plurality of colors used for various inspections (evaluations).

[0038] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the color chart image 300. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the color chart image 300 has a configuration including a measurement patch 301 and a color patch 302. In the present embodiment, it will be described assuming that the measurement patch 301 and the color patch 302 have a rectangular (preferably square) shape. The measurement patch 301 and the color patch 302 are formed in the peripheral part (cut-off part) of the image on the printing medium.

[0039] FIGS. 4A and 4B are control sequence diagrams of the printing system 10 respectively. Here, an example will be described assuming that the printing machine 100 prints the color chart image 300 (FIG. 3) and the colorimeter 200 measures the measurement patch 301 included in the color chart image 300.

[0040] In the example shown in FIG. 4A, first, the control unit 101 of the printing machine 100 receives, via the processing unit 102, the job ID and the print instruction of the color chart image 300 from the user PC 20 (step S105). Next, the control unit 101 analyzes, via the processing unit 102, the amount of the coloring material adhered to the color chart image 300 from the print job data (step S110).

[0041] After step S110, the control unit 101 generates, via the image processing unit 109, the image data of the measurement patch 301 (step S115), and embeds the image data of the measurement patch 301 into the print image data of the color chart image 300 (step S120). At this time, the image processing unit 109 generates colorimetric patch position information.

[0042] After step S120, the control unit 101 transmits the job ID and the color measurement patch position information to the color measuring machine 200 via the color measuring machine communication unit 111 (step S125).

[0043] The control unit 101 causes the printing unit 103 to print the color chart image 300 on the printing medium via the printing control unit 110 (step S130). After this, the printing machine 100 ends the series of processes shown in FIG. 4A.

[0044] After step S125 described above, the control unit 201 of the color measuring machine 200 receives the job ID and the color measurement patch position information from the printing machine 100 via the processing unit 202 (step S205). After step S205, the control unit 201 stores the received job ID and color measurement patch position information in the storage unit 208 via the processing unit 202 (step S210).

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4B, after step S130, the user installs (sets) the color chart image 300 (FIG. 3) in the color measurement unit 203 of the color measuring machine 200 (step S305). The control unit 201 of the color measuring machine 200 displays a list of the job IDs of the print jobs stored in the storage unit 208 on the display operation unit 207 via the processing unit 202 (step S310).

[0046] The control unit 201 receives the selection of the job ID by the user via the processing unit 202 (step S315). The control unit 201 acquires the measurement patch position information associated with the job ID via the processing unit 202 (step S320). The control unit 201 causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 301 via the color measurement control unit 211 (step S325).

[0047] After step S325, the control unit 201 causes the processing unit 202 to calculate the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 (step S330). Then, the control unit 201 causes the processing unit 202 to determine whether the amount of change is less than or equal to a threshold value (step S335). If it is determined in the determination of step S335 that the amount of change is not less than or equal to the threshold value (the case of "No"), the process returns to step S325. On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination of step S335 that the amount of change is less than or equal to the threshold value (the case of "Yes"), the colorimeter 200 determines that the stabilization of the colorant is completed (step S340).

[0048] After step S340, the control unit 201 causes the color measurement control unit 211 to cause the color measurement unit 203 to measure the color of the color patch 302 (step S345).

[0049] After step S345, the control unit 201 causes the processing unit 202 to store the color measurement result of the color patch 302 in the storage unit 208 (step S350). After this, the colorimeter 200 ends the series of processes shown in FIG. 4B.

[0050] Note that if it is determined as "No" more than an arbitrary number of times in the determination of step S335, the color measurement control unit 211 may temporarily suspend the color measurement of the measurement patch 301. That is, when it is determined that the colorant of the printed matter 400 is not stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301, the color measurement control unit 211 may temporarily suspend the color measurement of the measurement patch 301.

[0051] Here, the control sequences shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B will be supplemented and explained. When measuring the color of the printed matter 400 printed by the printing machine 100 with the colorimeter 200, the printing machine 100 generates print image data by the image processing unit 109. After that, with reference to all pixel data constituting the print image data in the same printed matter 400, data with the maximum colorant adhesion amount is specified.

[0052] The printing machine 100 generates image data of the measurement patch 301 with an ink adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum ink adhesion amount, and embeds the image data of the measurement patch 301 at a specific position in the printed image data of the printed matter 400. That is, in the printing machine 100, the printing control unit 110 causes the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum ink adhesion amount within the same printed matter 400.

[0053] The colorimeter communication unit 111 transmits the position information of the measurement patch 301 and the ID information of the print job to the colorimeter 200 connected via the network 30 and the network unit 112. When the colorimeter 200 receives the position information of the measurement patch 301 and the ID information of the print job, it associates them and stores them in the storage unit 208.

[0054] After that, the printing control unit 110 causes the printing unit 103 to print the printed image data in which the measurement patch 301 is embedded as the printed matter 400. The printed printed matter 400 is carried by the user to the colorimeter 200 and set in the color measurement unit 203 of the colorimeter 200.

[0055] The control unit 201 of the colorimeter 200 receives a color measurement start request by the user's operation on the display operation unit 207. Then, the control unit 201 causes the processing unit 202 to display a list of the job IDs of the print jobs stored in the storage unit 208 on the display operation unit 207. And the control unit 201 allows the user to select which job ID's print job to perform color measurement on.

[0056] The control unit 201 causes the processing unit 202 to read out the measurement patch position information associated with the job ID selected by the user from the storage unit 208. And the control unit 201 causes the color measurement control unit 211 to perform color measurement of the measurement patch 301 on the color measurement unit 203 based on the measurement patch position information, and stores the color measurement result in the storage unit 208.

[0057] Next, based on the color measurement results of the plurality of measurement patches 301 stored in the storage unit 208 by the processing unit 202 or the color measurement control unit 211, the control unit 201 calculates the rate of change of the color measurement results. When the rate of change is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value 703 (FIG. 5), the processing unit 202 or the color measurement control unit 211 determines that the stabilization of the color material is completed. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 starts color measurement of the entire printed matter 400.

[0058] Here, with reference to FIG. 5, a method for determining the stabilization of a color material based on the amount of color change when measuring the measurement patch 301 will be described. Here, as an example, a case where the printing machine 100 is a device that uses UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the change amount of the yellow component of the measurement patch 301. FIG. 5 shows that as the elapsed time from the completion of printing increases, the yellow component of the measurement patch 301 fades and decreases, and eventually the yellow component of the measurement patch 301 drops below a predetermined threshold value 703.

[0059] UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) contains a component called a photoinitiator that cures the ink by irradiation with UV (ultraviolet rays). The photoinitiator exhibits a phenomenon (yellowing) of changing color to yellow upon UV irradiation, and then has the characteristic that the yellow component fades over time. Color materials such as UV ink containing such a photoinitiator take a particularly long time to become color-stable after printing. The degree of yellowing and the time (stabilization time) until the color becomes stable due to fading vary depending on the ink adhesion amount (usage amount) and the UV irradiation intensity. Therefore, the printing machine 100 using UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) determines the stabilization of the color material by measuring the measurement patch 301 and confirming that the change amount of the yellow component in the color measurement coordinate space of the color of the measurement patch 301 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value 703.

[0060] The setting of the predetermined threshold value 703 is performed by previously displaying a threshold setting screen (not shown) on the display operation unit 207 of the color measuring machine 200. When the user inputs the threshold value 703 on the threshold setting screen, the control unit 201 of the color measuring machine 200 stores the input threshold value 703 in the storage unit 208.

[0061] Here, with reference to FIG. 6, the generation of a measurement patch for which a colorimetric point is specified will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the generation of a measurement patch 505 for which a colorimetric point is specified. In the example shown in FIG. 6, in a color chart image 500, first colorimetric points 501 to fourth colorimetric points 504 are arranged as color patches at arbitrary points in a central portion 500a of print image data, and a measurement patch 505 is arranged at a location outside the central portion 500a of the print image data.

[0062] A control unit 101 of the printing machine 100 causes a display operation unit 107 to display a designation screen (not shown) on which a user can specify (set) colorimetric points for a print job image to be colorimetrically measured. In the example shown in FIG. 6, for the print job image, as an example, the user has specified (set) a first colorimetric point 501, a second colorimetric point 502, a third colorimetric point 503, and a fourth colorimetric point 504. The control unit 101 stores position information of each colorimetric point in a storage unit 108.

[0063] When generating image data of the measurement patch 505, an image processing unit 109 refers to all pixel data within a range specified by the first colorimetric point 501 to the fourth colorimetric point 504, and identifies data having the maximum colorant adhesion amount. Then, the image processing unit 109 generates image data of the measurement patch 505 with the same colorant adhesion amount as the maximum colorant adhesion amount. At that time, the image processing unit 109 embeds the image data of the measurement patch 505 at a specific position of the print image data in the printed matter 400.

[0064] Such a printing system 10 can shorten the waiting time until colorant stabilization by limiting the reference range for identifying the maximum value of the colorant adhesion amount only to the range where colorimetry is performed.

[0065] Here, with reference to FIG. 7, color measurement control having a process of discarding color measurement results will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the color measurement control of the printing system 10. Here, a case will be described where the printing machine 100 prints the color chart image 500 (FIG. 6) and the color measuring machine 200 measures the measurement patches 301 included in the color chart image 500. FIG. 7 is an example of a process that can be performed instead of the process of FIG. 4B.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user installs the color chart image 500 (FIG. 6) in the color measurement unit 203 of the color measuring machine 200 (step S405). The control unit 201 of the color measuring machine 200 causes the processing unit 202 to display a list of job IDs of the print jobs stored in the storage unit 208 on the display operation unit 207 (step S410).

[0067] The control unit 201 receives the selection of the job ID by the user through the processing unit 202 (step S415). The control unit 201 acquires the measurement patch position information associated with (linked to) the job ID through the processing unit 202 (step S420). The control unit 201 causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 505 through the color measurement control unit 211 (step S425). After step S425, the control unit 201 stores the color measurement result of the measurement patch 505 in the storage unit 208 as the first color measurement result through the processing unit 202 (step S430).

[0068] After step S430, the control unit 201 causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure a color patch at an arbitrary point through the color measurement control unit 211 (step S435). Here, the color patch is, for example, an image at an arbitrary point among the first color measurement points 501 to the fourth color measurement points 504. After step S445, the control unit 201 stores the color measurement result of the measured color patch in the storage unit 208 through the processing unit 202 (step S440).

[0069] After step S440, the control unit 201 causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 505 by the color measurement control unit 211 (step S445). After step S445, the control unit 201 stores the color measurement result of the measurement patch 505 in the storage unit 208 as the second color measurement result by the processing unit 202 (step S450).

[0070] After step S450, the control unit 201 calculates the difference between the first color measurement result and the second color measurement result by the processing unit 202 (step S455). Then, the control unit 201 determines whether the difference is equal to or less than the threshold value 703 (FIG. 9) by the processing unit 202 (step S460). When the difference is equal to or less than the threshold value 703 (FIG. 9) ("Yes" case), the series of processes shown in FIG. 7 is terminated. On the other hand, when the difference is not less than the threshold value 703 (FIG. 9) ("No" case), the color measurement result of the color patch measured in step S435 is discarded (step S465). Here, the color patch is, for example, an image of an arbitrary point among the first color measurement points 501 to the fourth color measurement points 504. After this, the process returns to step S425.

[0071] In such a printing system 10, first, the color measurement device 200 measures the measurement patch 505 and stores the color measurement result in the storage unit 208 as the first color measurement result. Next, the color measurement device 200 measures an arbitrary point color patch and stores the color measurement result in the storage unit 208. Next, the color measurement device 200 measures the measurement patch 505 again and stores the color measurement result in the storage unit 208 as the second color measurement result.

[0072] Then, the color measurement device 200 compares the first color measurement result and the second color measurement result and calculates the color difference. When the calculation result is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value 703, the color measurement device 200 determines that a color change has occurred during the color measurement of the color patch of the color chart image 500 and discards the color measurement result of the color patch. Such a printing system 10 can ensure the acquisition of the color measurement result in a state where the coloring material is stabilized.

[0073] The above color chart images 300 and 500 can be deformed, for example, like the color chart image 600 shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the color chart image 600 used at the time of periodic detection. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the color chart image 600 has a configuration including a plurality of measurement patches 601 and a color patch 602.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of measurement patches 601 are arranged in the color chart image 600. Then, the colorimeter 200 alternately executes color measurement of the color patch 602 and color measurement of the measurement patches 601 along the color measurement order 603 at regular intervals. Thereby, the colorimeter 200 periodically obtains the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 and monitors one by one the differences in the color measurement results of the measurement patches 601 that are periodically executed a plurality of times. When the difference becomes equal to or greater than a preset threshold value 703, the colorimeter 200 displays a warning message indicating that the color of the color material has changed on the display operation unit 207 and immediately stops the color measurement operation. Note that the case where the difference becomes equal to or greater than the preset threshold value 703 means the case where it is determined that the color material of the printed matter 400 is not stabilized. In this case, the color measurement control unit 211 causes the display device to display a warning message indicating that the color is not stabilized. Note that the warning message may be displayed on the display operation unit 107 by the print control unit 110 of the printing machine 100. Such a printing system 10 can ensure the acquisition of the color measurement result in a state where the color material is stabilized.

[0075] The printing system 10 can calculate the predicted time until the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter 400 from the amount of change (change rate) per unit time of the colors of the measurement patches 301, 505, 601 (FIGS. 3, 6, 8) and cause the display device to display the predicted time. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, the operation of calculating the predicted time and causing the display device to display the predicted time will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method for predicting the stabilization completion time of a color material (ink). Here, the measurement patch 301 shown in FIG. 3 will be described as an example.

[0076] For example, the color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 periodically measures the measurement patch 301 (Fig. 3), and stores the measured value 701 of the color change amount calculated from the color measurement result and the previous color measurement result in the storage unit 208. After multiple color measurements, the color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 calculates an approximate curve 702 representing the color change rate (the change amount per unit time of the measured value shown in Fig. 9) from the measured values 701 of the change amount stored in the storage unit 208. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 calculates the time when the color change rate becomes equal to or less than the preset threshold value 703 from the approximate curve 702 and the preset threshold value 703. The color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 calculates the remaining time until the stabilization of the color material is completed from the calculation result and the elapsed time from the color measurement of the first measurement patch, and displays the remaining time on the display operation unit 207. That is, the color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 causes the color measurement unit 203 to periodically measure the measurement patch 301 and records the color change amount of the measurement patch 301. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 of the color measurement device 200 calculates the predicted time until the stabilization of the color material is completed from the recorded color change rate (the change amount per unit time of the measured value 701 shown in Fig. 9) of the measurement patch 301, and causes the predicted time to be displayed on the display device. Thereby, the printing system 10 can notify the user of the remaining time until the stabilization of the color material.

[0077] <Main features of printing systems, etc.> The printing system 10 according to the present embodiment can be configured to have the following features. (1) As shown in Fig. 2, the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a printing machine 100 that prints an arbitrary printed matter 400 on a printing medium, and a color measurement device 200 that measures the color of the printed matter 400. The printing machine 100 includes a printing unit 103, and a printing control unit 110 that causes the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 (Fig. 3) used for measuring the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter 400 and the printed matter 400 on the printing medium based on the information of the printed matter 400. The color measurement device 200 includes a color measurement unit 203, and a color measurement control unit 211 that causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 301 and determines whether the color material (ink) of the printed matter 400 has stabilized based on the color change amount of the measurement patch 301.

[0078] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment causes the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 and the printed matter 400 on a printing medium based on the information of the printed matter 400. Then, the printing system 10 measures the color of the measurement patch 301 and determines whether the color material of the printed matter 400 has stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301. Thereby, the printing system 10 can determine whether the color material of the printed matter 400 has stabilized in a short time without being affected by differences in printing content and printing conditions. The printing system 10 according to such an embodiment can shorten the waiting time for the stabilization of the color material.

[0079] (2) In the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the print control unit 110 causes the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount within the same printed matter 400.

[0080] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment prints the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount in an actual printing job. Then, the printing system 10 confirms the stabilization of the color development of the entire printed matter 400 by confirming the stabilization of the color development of the measurement patch 301. Thereby, the printing system 10 can determine whether the color material of the printed matter 400 has stabilized in a short time without being affected by differences in printing content and printing conditions. The printing system 10 according to such an embodiment can shorten the waiting time for the stabilization of the color material.

[0081] (3) As shown in FIG. 4B, in the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether the color material of the printed matter 400 has stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301. When it is determined that the color material of the printed matter 400 has stabilized (step S340), the color measurement control unit 211 causes the color measurement unit 203 to start color measurement of the printed matter 400 (step S345).

[0082] When it is determined that the coloring material of the printed matter 400 is stabilized, the printing system 10 according to this embodiment can obtain accurate color measurement values of the printed matter 400 with a short waiting time by starting color measurement of the printed matter 400.

[0083] (4) As shown in FIG. 4B, in the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the color measurement control unit 211 causes the color measurement unit 203 to periodically measure the measurement patch 301. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether or not the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 is within a predetermined threshold value 703 (FIG. 5) set in advance (step S335). Thereby, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether or not the coloring material of the printed matter 400 is stabilized.

[0084] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment can determine whether or not the coloring material is stabilized by determining whether or not the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 is within a predetermined threshold value 703 (FIG. 5) set in advance.

[0085] (5) The printing system 10 according to this embodiment further includes a display device (not shown) that displays information. The print control unit 110 or the color measurement control unit 211 causes the display device to display a threshold setting screen (not shown) for setting the threshold value 703 (FIG. 5) used as a criterion for determining the stabilization of the coloring material of the printed matter 400. The display device is, for example, the display operation unit 107 or the display operation unit 207.

[0086] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment can cause the user to set the threshold value 703 (FIG. 5) by causing the display device to display the threshold setting screen.

[0087] (6) As shown in FIG. 5, in the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether or not the coloring material of the printed matter 400 is stabilized. At that time, when a UV curable coloring material is used as the coloring material, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether or not the amount of change in the yellow component of the coloring material in the color measurement coordinate space of the color of the measurement patch 301 is within a predetermined threshold value 703 (FIG. 5) set in advance (step S335 in FIG. 4B).

[0088] The printing system 10 according to such an embodiment can determine whether or not the colorant has been stabilized by determining whether or not the change amount of the yellow component of the colorant in the colorimetric coordinate space of the measurement patch 301 is within the threshold value 703 (FIG. 5).

[0089] (7) As shown in FIG. 6, in the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the print control unit 110 causes the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an amount of adhesion equivalent to the maximum amount of colorant adhesion among a plurality of specific colorimetric points set for the printed matter 400.

[0090] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment prints the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an amount of adhesion equivalent to the maximum amount of colorant adhesion in an actual printing job. Thereby, the printing system 10 can determine whether or not the colorant of the printed matter 400 has been stabilized in a short time without being affected by differences in printing content and printing conditions. The printing system 10 according to such an embodiment can shorten the waiting time for the stabilization of the colorant.

[0091] (8) As shown in FIG. 7, in the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the colorimetric control unit 211 causes the colorimetric unit 203 to perform colorimetry on the measurement patch 301 at the start and completion of colorimetry of the printed matter 400 (steps S425, S445). Then, the colorimetric control unit 211 determines whether or not color fluctuations have occurred during the colorimetry of the measurement patch 301 based on the change amount of the color of the measurement patch 301 at the start and completion of colorimetry (step S460). When color fluctuations have occurred, the colorimetric control unit 211 discards the colorimetric result of the measurement patch 301 (step S465).

[0092] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment determines whether color variation has occurred during the color measurement of the measurement patch 301 based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 at the start and completion of color measurement. When color variation has occurred, the color measurement control unit 211 discards the color measurement result of the measurement patch 301. The printing system 10 according to this embodiment can ensure the acquisition of color measurement results in a state where the colorant is stabilized.

[0093] (9) In the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, when it is determined based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 that the colorant of the printed matter 400 is not stabilized, the color measurement control unit 211 temporarily suspends the color measurement of the measurement patch 301.

[0094] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment can avoid repeatedly performing the color measurement of the measurement patch 301 for an excessive amount of time.

[0095] (10) The printing system 10 according to this embodiment further includes a display device (not shown) for displaying information. The color measurement control unit 211 causes the color measurement unit 203 to periodically perform color measurement on the measurement patch 301 and periodically obtains the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301. When it is determined by the color measurement control unit 211 based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 that the colorant of the printed matter 400 is not stabilized, the printing control unit 110 or the color measurement control unit 211 causes the display device to display a warning message indicating that the color is not stabilized. The display device is, for example, the display operation unit 107 or the display operation unit 207, etc.

[0096] The printing system 10 according to this embodiment can notify the user of a warning message indicating that the color is not stabilized.

[0097] (11) In the printing system 10 according to this embodiment, the color measurement control unit 211 causes the color measurement unit 203 to periodically measure the measurement patch 301 and records the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 calculates the predicted time until the stabilization of the coloring material from the recorded rate of change in the color of the measurement patch 301 (the amount of change per unit time of the actual measured value 701 shown in FIG. 9), and causes the display device to display the predicted time.

[0098] Such a printing system 10 according to this embodiment can inform the user of the remaining time until the stabilization of the coloring material.

[0099] (12) As shown in FIG. 2, the printing machine 100 according to this embodiment includes a printing unit 103 and a printing control unit 110. Based on the information of the printed matter 400, the printing control unit 110 prints the measurement patch 301 used for measuring the stabilization of the coloring material of the printed matter 400 and the printed matter 400 on the printing medium by the printing unit 103. At that time, the printing control unit 110 causes the measurement patch 301 to be printed on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum adhesion amount of the coloring material in the same printed matter 400.

[0100] The printing machine 100 according to this embodiment prints the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum adhesion amount of the coloring material in an actual printing job. Thereby, the printing machine 100 can provide the user with a printing medium on which the measurement patch 301 capable of determining whether or not the coloring material has been stabilized is printed without being affected by differences in printing content and printing conditions.

[0101] (13) As shown in FIG. 2, the color measurement machine 200 according to this embodiment includes a color measurement unit 203 and a color measurement control unit 211. The color measurement control unit 211 causes the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 301 for the measurement patch 301 printed on the printing medium and an arbitrary printed matter 400. Then, the color measurement control unit 211 determines whether or not the coloring material of the printed matter 400 has been stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301.

[0102] The colorimeter 200 according to such an embodiment can determine whether the colorant of the printed matter 400 has been stabilized based on the change amount of the color of the measurement patch 301.

[0103] (14) The colorant stabilization determination method according to this embodiment includes a printing step (steps S120 and S130 in FIG. 4A) and a determination step (steps S325 to S340 in FIG. 4B). The printing step is a step of printing the measurement patch 301 and the printed matter 400 used for measuring the stabilization of the colorant of the printed matter 400 on a printing medium by the printing machine 100 that prints an arbitrary printed matter 400 on the printing medium based on the information of the printed matter 400. The determination step is a step of determining whether the colorant of the printed matter 400 has been stabilized based on the change amount of the color of the measurement patch 301 by measuring the measurement patch 301 with the colorimeter 200 that measures the color of the printed matter 400.

[0104] In such a colorant stabilization determination method according to this embodiment, in the printing step, based on the information of the printed matter 400, the printing unit 103 is caused to print the measurement patch 301 and the printed matter 400 on the printing medium. The colorant stabilization determination method can obtain the accurate color measurement value of the measurement patch 301 in the shortest waiting time in the determination step by measuring the measurement patch 301, regardless of the difference in the color stabilization time due to the difference in the printing content and printing conditions. Such a colorant stabilization determination method according to this embodiment can shorten the waiting time for the stabilization of the colorant.

[0105] (15) The program 802a according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a program for realizing the printing machine 100 used in the printing system 10. The program 802a causes the control unit of the printing machine 100 that prints an arbitrary printed matter 400 on the printing medium to cause the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 and the printed matter 400 used for measuring the stabilization of the colorant of the printed matter 400 on the printing medium based on the information of the printed matter 400. At that time, the program 802a causes the control unit to cause the printing unit 103 to print the measurement patch 301 on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum colorant adhesion amount in the same printed matter 400.

[0106] The program 802a according to such an embodiment can implement the printing machine 100 used in the printing system 10.

[0107] (16) The program 802b according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a program for implementing the colorimeter 200 used in the printing system 10. The program 802b causes the control unit of the colorimeter 200 that measures the printed matter 400 to cause the color measurement unit 203 to measure the measurement patch 301 printed on the printing medium together with the printed matter 400. Then, the program 802b causes the control unit to determine whether or not the coloring material of the printed matter 400 has been stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch 301.

[0108] The program 802b according to such an embodiment can implement the colorimeter 200 used in the printing system 10.

[0109] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0110] For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail in order to explain the gist of the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all the components described. Also, in the present invention, other components can be added to a certain component, or some components can be changed to other components. Further, in the present invention, some components can also be deleted.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0111] 10 Printing system 20 Client PC 30 Network 100 Printing machine 200 Colorimeter 101, 201 Control unit 102, 202 Processing unit 103 Printing unit 104, 204 CPU 105, 205 ROM 106,206 RAM 107,207 Operation unit 108,208 Memory unit 109 Image processing unit 110 Printing control unit 111 Colorimeter communication unit 112,212 Network unit 203 Color measurement unit 211 Color measurement control unit 300,500,600 Color chart image 301,505,601 Measurement patch 302,602 Color patch 400 Printed matter 500a Central part 501 First color measurement point 502 Second color measurement point 503 Third color measurement point 504 Fourth color measurement point 603 Color measurement order 701 Measured value 702 Approximation curve 703 Threshold value 801a,801b Memory medium 802a,802b Program

Claims

1. A printing machine for printing any printed matter on a printing medium, and a color measuring machine for color measuring the printed matter, comprising: The printing machine includes a printing unit, and a printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter and the printed matter on the printing medium based on the information of the printed matter; The color measuring machine includes a color measuring unit, and a color measuring control unit that causes the color measuring unit to measure the measurement patch and determines whether the color material of the printed matter is stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch; A printing system.

2. The printing control unit causes the printing unit to print the measurement patch on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount within the same printed matter. The printing system according to Claim 1.

3. When the color measuring control unit determines that the color material of the printed matter is stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch, the color measuring control unit causes the color measuring unit to start color measuring the printed matter. The printing system according to Claim 1.

4. The color measuring control unit causes the color measuring unit to periodically measure the measurement patch and determines whether the color material of the printed matter is stabilized by determining whether the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch falls within a preset predetermined threshold. The printing system according to Claim 1.

5. Further comprising a display device for displaying information, The printing control unit or the color measuring control unit causes the display device to display a threshold setting screen for setting a threshold used as a criterion for determining the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter. The printing system according to Claim 1.

6. When a UV curable color material is used as the color material, The color measuring control unit determines whether the color material of the printed matter is stabilized by determining whether the amount of change in the yellow component of the color material in the color measurement coordinate space of the measurement patch falls within a preset predetermined threshold. The printing system according to Claim 1.

7. The printing control unit causes the printing unit to print the measurement patch on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount among a plurality of specific color measurement points set for the printed matter. The printing system according to Claim 1.

8. The color measuring control unit causes the color measuring unit to measure the measurement patch at the start and completion of color measurement of the printed matter, Based on the amount of color change of the measurement patch at the start and end of color measurement, it is determined whether color fluctuations occurred during the color measurement of the measurement patch. If color fluctuations occurred, the color measurement result of the measurement patch is discarded. The printing system according to claim 1.

9. When it is determined based on the amount of color change of the measurement patch that the color material of the printed matter is not stabilized, the color measurement control unit temporarily suspends the color measurement of the measurement patch. The printing system according to claim 1.

10. Further comprising a display device for displaying information. The color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to periodically measure the measurement patch, and periodically obtains the amount of color change of the measurement patch. When it is determined based on the amount of color change of the measurement patch by the color measurement control unit that the color material of the printed matter is not stabilized, the printing control unit or the color measurement control unit causes the display device to display a warning message indicating that the color is not stabilized. The printing system according to claim 1.

11. Further comprising a display device for displaying information. The color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to periodically measure the measurement patch, records the amount of color change of the measurement patch, calculates the predicted time until the stabilization of the color material from the recorded color change rate of the measurement patch, and causes the display device to display the predicted time. The printing system according to claim 1.

12. A printing unit Based on the information of the printed matter, when printing the measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter and the printed matter on the printing medium on the printing unit, the measurement patch is printed on the printing medium with an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum color material adhesion amount within the same printed matter. A printing control unit. A printing machine.

13. A color measurement unit For the measurement patch printed on the printing medium and an arbitrary printed matter, the color measurement unit measures the measurement patch, and a color measurement control unit that determines whether the color material of the printed matter is stabilized based on the amount of color change of the measurement patch. A color measuring machine.

14. A printing process of printing, on the printing medium, a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of the color material of the printed matter and the printed matter based on the information of the printed matter by a printing machine that prints an arbitrary printed matter on the printing medium. A determination step of measuring the measurement patch by a color measuring machine that measures the printed matter, and determining whether the color material of the printed matter is stabilized based on the amount of color change of the measurement patch. A method for determining color material stabilization.

15. A program for causing a printing unit of a printing machine that prints any printed matter on a printing medium to print a measurement patch used for measuring the stabilization of a coloring material of the printed matter and the printed matter on the printing medium at an adhesion amount equivalent to the maximum coloring material adhesion amount within the same printed matter when printing them on the printing medium, based on the information of the printed matter, to a control unit of the printing machine.

16. A program for causing a color measurement unit of a color measuring machine that color measures a printed matter to color measure a measurement patch printed on a printing medium together with the printed matter, and for causing the control unit of the color measuring machine to determine whether or not the coloring material of the printed matter has been stabilized based on the amount of change in the color of the measurement patch.

Images